Shibam Hadramaut Yemen 1993

I lived and worked in Yemen in the early 1990s at a time when the country was not at war so we could travel everywhere. This is Shibam city from the air looking north, taken from the De Haviland Twin Otter on a company flight from Sana'a to the seismic base in Block 32. The pilot dropped down and circled the city so we could get a better look.

Shibam, the Manhattan of the Desert, is a magical place from the air or on the ground. It must have been a breathtaking vision of civilisation for any desert traveller crossing the Empty Quarter to look over the high cliffs of Wadi Hadramaut and see this beautiful city rising from the wadi floor.

It is a great shame that the country and its friendly people have been so damaged in the last years with no obvious end to their woes in sight.